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L. B.- LATHROP.

, Wheel-Plow.-

No. 65,094. V Tanemefl May 28," 1867.-

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GANG-PLOUGH.

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONGERN:.-

Be it known that I, L. B. LATHROP, of San Jose, in the county of Santa Clara, and State of California, have invented a new and improved Gang-Plough; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of my improved gang-plough.

Figure 2 is a. plan or top view, partly in section, of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

This invention relates to a new plough, which is constructed with a view of reducing manual labor in ploughing, and to secure an ease of draught not heretofore attained.

The invention consists, first, in doing away with all land-sides in the ploughs, and substituting therefor revolving rotary cutters, arranged in front of the ploughs, thus transferring the friction of the land-sides to the well-oiled bearings of the said revolving cutters. My invention consists, second, in the manner of placing the axle by which the whole frame is supported, said axle being arranged at a more or less obtuse angle from the furrow out by the ploughs for the purpose of permitting the use of plough-beams of equal length, and for adding to the general compactness of the apparatus. By varying the angle in which the said axle is placed, I am enabled to vary the width of the furrow out. My invention also consists in the construction of the device for raising and lowering the pl-oughs, which can be done by a screw, which raises the ploughs out of the ground, when the machine is to be transported from one-place to another, and by adjustable hinges whereby the ploughs can be secured to the axle in such a manner as to cut furrows of greater or less depth, as may be desired. The invention also consists in the use of a double tongue, a lead-tongue being hinged to the front end of the main tongue in such a manner that the former may swing freely up and dbwn, as well as sideways, without affecting the motions of the main tongue, the front end of which is supported by a caster-wheel that turns sideways with the lead-tongue, aswill be hereinafter set forth. Thereby the weight is taken off the horses necks, and the'rear end. of the lead-tongue may also serve to support the whiflle-trees of the lead-beam. My invention finally consists in the shape of the plough-beams, and in the manner of connecting them with the mould-boards, so as to prevent the ploughs from getting clogged between the boards and their standards.

A represents the main tongue of the plough, and is supported by'braces a and b, which are secured to the axle B of the plough. The ends of the latter aresupported upon wheels 0, as shown. It will be seen in fig. 2 that the axle B is set obliquely under the tongue, and the angle may be varied bychanging the length of the rear brace a, and by having the upper arm of the brace b slotted. The wheels C are each provided with a circular projecting cutter, d, which act as revolving land-sides for the ploughs D. The latter, of'which any desired number may be applied, are made. without land-sides, as shown, and are secured to curved beams or standards E, which are firmly bolted to a rod, F, as shown. This rod is attached or hinged to the axle B by means of pins e e, which pass through lugs or cars f and attached to therods F and B respectively. The lugs g are provided with a series of holes, so that the depth of furrow may be regulated, by attaching the rod F higher or lower to the lugs 9. By means of lovers or of a screw, K, which swivels in a red, It, thatis connected stationary with the tongue A, and of which screw turns in a nut attached to or forming part of a rod or bar, 2', that is hinged or pivoted to one of the plough-beams, as shown, the ploughs may be easily raised out of ground by the driver, whose seat, G, is secured upon a brace, H, attached to the tongue A, as shown.- The ploughbeams E are horizontal, and are so bent that they extend beyond the ploughs, and are then bent forward again, as shown, so as notto form a continuous line with the front of the mould-board. Any rubbish, straw, &c., will thus be prevented from clogging the plo ughs, and will be thrown over the same. To the front end of the tongue A are bolted or otherwise firmly secured two metal plates Z. A caster-wheel, I, is secured in an upright frame, L, that is providedwith ears or lugs m, through which and through the ends of the plates [a bolt, n, is'passed, so that thereby the front end of the tongue A is supported, and still the frame L can freely turn around the bolt n. A lead-tongue, M, is attached by means of a bolt, 0, passing through twb lugs 19, on the rear end of the tongue M, and through the upper part of the frame L to thedatter, in such a manner that the lead-tongue can swing up and down on the bolt '0, and sideways on the bolt 11, without affecting the movement or the position of the tongue A. By this means the steering of the whole apparatus is greatly facilitated. A pin. 7', or other suitable device is secured to the rear end of the tongue M for attaching the whifl'le-trees of the lead-beam. This double-tongue arrangement may also be profitably employed on all other kinds of vehicles.

, What I claim as new, and desire to seeureby Letters Patent, is- 1. The rotary cutters 01, attached to the wheels C, and forming flanges thereon, for the purpose of acting as land-sides for the ploughs, substantially as set forth.

2. The axle B, when arranged obliquely below the tongue A, and when adjustable by means of the screwbolt a and slotted arm 6, substantially as and t'orthe purpose herein shown and described.

3. The devices for raising and lowering the ploughs, Consisting of the screw K, rods 2' and It, and of the axle B, lugs f and g, bar F, and bolts e, respectively, as set forth.

4. The double-tongue A M, in combination with the wheel I supporting the end of the main tongue, and

with the hinges Zm n, and 0' L, substantially as herein shown and described.

5. The plough-beams E, when bent so as to form oil'sets at the top of the mould-boards, substantially as and for the purpose herein shown and described.

The above specification of my invention signed by me this eighteenth day of March, 1867.

' L. B. LATHROP.

Witnesses:

A. E. PoMEnoY, CHARLES SIBERT. 

